The ongoing animosity between Blackpool and Preston North End fans has resurfaced in the form of another stunt, but this time in the surprisingly sedate setting of the Countdown television studio. Viewers of the Channel 4 show were given 'PNECRISIS' to solve as the show-closing conundrum – and it was no coincidence.

A producer on the show, who happens to be an ardent Blackpool fan, rigged the nine-letter teaser to poke further fun at Preston supporters, who were incensed after their Lancashire rivals flew banners over Deepdale mocking the club during the final game of the season after relegation into League One.

Preston fans started the trend of pranks last season by hanging a banner saying "forever in our shadow" on the M55 motorway, which links the two towns, as Blackpool's supporters made their way to Wembley for the Championship play-off final with Cardiff City.

North End did not take the Blackpool flyover very well with Phil Brown, the manager, calling it "distasteful" and saying: "If I had a gun I would have shot the plane down." But the club has reacted to the Countdown stunt in better humour.

"We can see the funny side of the joke and accept that with any setback you will always have opposition supporters ready to poke fun," they said in a statement.

"If this is the handiwork of somebody who supports a rival, then we will begrudgingly accept that it's a novel way of trying to do so. Most of the jibes are water off a duck's back to our supporters who are purchasing season tickets as we look forward to a hopefully successful season."

A Channel 4 statement said: "One of the members of the production team is a life-long Blackpool fan and it was intended to be friendly banter, all done in good humour."

And if you're still wondering what the answer to the conundrum was: "PRICINESS".